In case you’ve missed the news of late, Airbnb Trips recently launched in Cape Town and other major cities across the world. This feature essentially allows travellers to enjoy tours and experiences during vacation. For smart property owners and hosts wanting to maximise rental profits, this feature will undoubtedly be worth watching.

But, is Airbnb Trips really all it is made out to be? And, more importantly, how does this feature compare to fully managed vacation rental? Which of these options is worth considering for your property? Join us as we take a deeper look at how to provide your guests with more value during their stay.

Airbnb Trips or Managed Vacation Rental?

First up, let’s see what Airbnb Trips is all about. From the Airbnb website, Trips offers travellers the opportunity to find local, personalised experience in all corners of the world. It is available on iTunes and Google Play. Here in Cape Town, experiences could include cooking lessons in the Bo Kaap, or a walking tour through a little-known suburb. Once-off experiences are offered in addition to immersions, which are experiences held over multiple days.

Trips hosts are a little different to regular accommodation hosts. Hosts range from hikers, to chefs, local guides and people from all walks of life. As the app serves as a stand-alone tool, you can become a Trips host even if you are not a property host.

Ultimately, what makes Trips special is that it provides visitors with a deeper travel experience. As experiences are powered by locals, who, after all, have the most extensive understanding of any destination, visitors are able to enjoy intrinsically unique travel adventures.

Why is this important to you as a vacation rental property owner, you may be wondering? Well, for starters, providing your guests with a truly memorable travel experience should be right at the top of your list of priorities. If you’re keen to provide your guests with a well-rounded vacation, but you’re a bit iffy about Airbnb Trips, managed vacation rental may be the ideal solution.

Some of the ways that a managed approach to vacation lets helps to enhance your guest’s visit include the following:

• Round the clock concierge services. Having someone to assist at all times will make your guests feel pampered from the moment they arrive, to the time they check-out. There are few replacements for on-the-ball concierge services, and no app can compete with a living, breathing person who is there to help guests book restaurants, arrange car hire, find a baby sitter and assist with any other requirements.
• Customised tours. Airbnb Trips is effective in that it allows visitors to choose from a wide range of experiences in Cape Town. Tailored tours however go one step further. With a managed vacation rental, guests can enjoy tours that are personalised according to their interests, budgets, time constraints and other specifications.
• Private chefs, butlers, housekeeping and other services. If your guests really want to live the good life, they can also arrange private chefs, butlers, housekeepers and other assistance. Whether it’s for a special event such as an anniversary or honeymoon, or a much-needed vacation filled with pampering, this makes for a rewarding stay that combines the sumptuousness of a first-rate hotel with the flexibility of self-catering.

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While there is no doubt that Airbnb Trips will expand the already outstanding offering available to guests planning a vacation in Cape Town and other cities, a managed approach will allow you to provide guests with a comprehensive, one-stop trip that includes accommodation, concierge, tours and anything else they may require. In this way, managed vacation rental may just be a far smarter move for property owners.

To find out more about how managed vacation lets provide a solid alternative to Airbnb Trips, contact Totalstay today for a property evaluation. We will show you to maximise your bookings for optimal growth.